Vent window system for vehicle body structure

ABSTRACT

A vehicle body structure having a window opening fitted with a window panel divided vertically into two sections, one of which is substantially smaller than the other. A single window regulator mechanism, which may be manually or power operated, raises and lowers both panel sections in controlled sequence. With the window panel in raised condition, actuation of the window regulator mechanism results in the smaller panel section being lowered into the body structure to provide a ventilation exhaust opening. During the travel of the smaller panel section into the body structure, the larger panel section remains locked in a fully raised position by a latch mechanism that is a component of the window regulator mechanism. When the smaller panel section reaches a predetermined down position, the latch mechanism is released allowing the larger panel section to travel to a full down position. Upon movement of the window panel section from its lowered position to a raised position, a reverse sequence occurs during which the larger panel section again becomes locked in a fully raised position as the smaller panel section continues to move out of the body structure into fully raised position.

United States Patent Frey et al.

[4 1 May 2, 1972 [54] VENT WINDOW SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE [72]Inventors: Stuart M. Frey, Birmingham; Harold C.

Gebhard, Livonia; Julius Rado, Birmingham, all of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich. [221 Filed: Sept. 25,1970 [21] Appl. No.: 75,392

2,955,817 10/1960 Campbell et a1 ..49/l03 Primary Examiner-KennethDowney A tromey-John R. Faulkner and John J. Roethel [5 7] ABSTRACT Avehicle body structure having a window opening fitted with a windowpanel divided vertically into two sections, one of which issubstantially smaller than the other. A single window regulatormechanism, which may be manually or power operated, raises and lowersboth panel sections in controlled sequence. With the window panel inraised condition, actuation of the window regulator mechanism results inthe smaller panel section being lowered into the body structure toprovide a ventilation exhaust opening. During the travel of the smallerpanel section into the body structure, the larger panel section remainslocked in a fully raised position by a latch mechanism that is acomponent of the window regulator mechanism. When the smaller panelsection reaches a predetermined down position, the latch mechanism isreleased allowing the larger panel section to travel to a full downposition Upon movement of the window panel section from its loweredposition to a raised position, a reverse sequence occurs during whichthe larger panel section again becomes locked in a fully raised positionas the smaller panel section continues to move I out of the bodystructure into fully raised position.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAY 2 m2 SHEET 10F 4 i m a a r 3 mg m i PATENTEDHAY 2 1972 3, 6 59 3 8 1 sum 3 OF 4 W Wf VENT WINDOWSYSTEM FOR VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For about30 years starting in the mid 1930s the front doors of almost all vehiclebodies were equipped with a ventilation window pivotable about asubstantially vertical axis and a conventional main window that could beraised and lowered relative to the window opening. With the advent ofwrap around Windshields and Windshields having a greater rearwardinclination, the pivoted vent window fell somewhat in disfavor. It wasdifficult to hinge the sharply triangulated piece of glass that had tobe used. The pivoted vent window also required an upstanding framestructure on the door and this created a conflict with the desire to useframeless windows, particularly in the hardtop models. As a result, thepivoted vent window was eliminated in many models and the front doorwindow became a large frameless piece of glass. The elimination of thepivoted vent window has been found not to be wholly acceptable. The ventwindow provided a desirable exhaust flow of air from the vehicleinterior that has not been duplicated by other systems.

As discussed in US. Pat. No. 1,770,747 issued July 15,

1930 to William D. Crowell, the area immediately to the rear of thevehicle windshield pillar is a low pressure area when the vehicle ismoving. An opening in this area provides an efficient means forexhausting air from the vehicle interior. The Crowell patent discloses avertical division of the window pane] into independently movablesections so that the forward section can be raised or lowered to providethe desired amount of exhaust opening. In the Crowell disclosure, eachwindow panel section is operated by an independent window regulatormechanism and each panel section is guided within fixed guide barsincluding afixed division bar between the two sections.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a frameless windowvertically divided into a small ventilation section and a largevisibility section, the sections being raised and lowered by a singlewindow regulator mechanism constructed and arranged to provide formovement of the ventilation section to a full open position withoutcorresponding movement of the visibility section. Further operation ofthe mechanism results in movement of the visibility section from a fullyraised to a fully lowered or any intermediate position therebetween.

It is a further object to provide a structure in which movement of theventilation section is guided in part on a guiding and sealing membersecured to the front edge of the visibility section. When the visibilitysection is lowered the entire win dow opening is unobstructed since theguiding and sealing member is carried into the window well with theglass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is concerned with therelationship of a vehicle body having a window opening, a window panelvertically divided into a ventilation section and a visibility sectionand a window regulator mechanism for sequentially vertically raising andlowering the window panel sections into and out of the window opening.The window regulator mechanism basically comprises a pair of drive armmeans each coupled to a window panel section. A drive means coupled tothe drive arm means is operable to move the latter sequentially to firstlower the ventilation section a predetermined distance independently ofthe visibility section and then to lower the ventilation and visibilitysections together to a fully lowered position of the latter. The windowregulator mechanism includes a latch means operable to hold the drivearm means coupled to the visibility section against movement untilreleased by the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section uponthe latter being lowered the predetermined distance. The sequence ofmovement of the ventilation and visibility sections is reversed upon thelatch means becoming operative to hold the visibility panel againstmovement beyond its fully raised section as the ventilation sectioncontinues its upward movement. In the preferred form of the mechanism,the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto, the drive link being pivotally connected to the drive arm meanscoupled to the ventilation section and having a lost motion connectionwith the drive arm means coupled to the visibility section.

Also, in the preferred form of the mechanism, the drive arm meanscoupled to the ventilation section comprises a drive arm pivotallysupported intermediate its ends on a vehicle body structural member. Asupport arm is pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end ofthe drive arm. A control link is pivotally anchored at one end to thevehicle body structural member and at its other end to one end of thesupport arm. The other end of the support arm is coupled to theventilation section.

The geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the support arm andcontrol link are such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance inwhich the ventilation section moves independently of the visibilitysection and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral pathpermitting the visibility section to overtake and move past theventilation section to a fully lowered position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other objects, advantages and features of thepresent invention will become more apparent as this descriptionproceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle body structure,such as a vehicle door having a sectional window panel mounted thereinadapted to be raised and lowered by a window regulator mechanismembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the window regulatormechanism in window panel raised position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the window regulator mechanism illustrating theparts thereof in the relationship in which the ventilation section ofthe window panel has been lowered and the visibility section has beenreleased from the latch mechanism holding it against downward movement;and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the parts of the window regulator mechanismwhen both the ventilation and visibility sections are in their lowermostposition within the vehicle body structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings,there is illustrated in dot and dash outline a portion of a vehicle bodystructure such as a door, generally designated 10. The door has innerand outer panels 11 and 12, respectively, between and on which thevarious mechanical hardware items such as a latch mechanism and hinges,none of which is shown, a window guide assembly 13, a door glass run andbracket assembly 14, and a window regulator mechanism generallydesignated 15 embodying the present invention are mounted.

The window panel, generally designated 16, is vertically divided into atleast two sections, a small front ventilation section 17 and a muchlarger main or visibility section 18.

As in a conventional vehicle installation, window panel 16 is adapted tobe raised and lowered relative to a window well in the vehicle bodystructure or door 10. In accordance with the present invention, thewindow regulator mechanism 15 is constructed and arranged to lower andraise the window panel sections 17 and 18 in sequential movement, aswill be more fully explained.

The window regulator mechanism 15 comprises a vertically elongated baseor mounting plate 19 adapted to be mounted as by bolts 21 to the innerdoor panel 11. A gear sector 22 is rotatably journalled on a flat headshoulder rivet 23 positioned on the lower half section of the plate 19.The gear sector 22 is illustrated as being drivable in window raising orlowering directions by a electric motor and reduction gear unit 24. Thisis a conventional power operated window regulator mechanism drive unitand a detailed description is not considered necessary. It should alsobe understoodthat the gear sector 22 could be rotated by a conventionalhand crank driven pinion.

Subjacent its upper end the mounting plate 19 carries a pivot shaft 25on which are journalled a pair of drive arms 26 and 27, respectively.The pivot axis of the pivot shaft 25 is parallel to the pivot axisdefined by the shoulder rivet 23 about which the gear sector 22 rotates.

The drive arm 26 is considered the main or first drive arm and ispivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the pivot shaft 25. It hasarm sections 28 and 29 each of which projects laterally of the mountingplate 19 in a generally horizontal direction in window raised position,see FIG. 2.

The gear sector 22 is drivingly connected to the first drive arm 25 by alink 31. The link 31 extends between shoulder rivet 32 located at onecorner of the gear sector 22 and a pivot stud 33 carried on the end 28of the first drive arm 26 The connection of the link 31 to the drive armend 28 is considered a direct connection in that there is no relativemovement between the two other than pivotal movement. The reason forthis distinction will become apparent.

At its end 29 the first drive arm 25 carried a shoulder rivet 34 onwhich an irregularly shaped arm 35 is pivotally supported intermediateits ends. This arm 35 may hereinafter be referred to as the ventilationpanel section support arm. The support arm 35 has an S-shaped uppersection 36 which in window pane] raised position extends at an upwardlyinclined angle across the top of mounting plate 19. At its terminal endthe upper arm section 36 carries a roller device 37 which is adapted tobe coupled to a channel 38 carried on a bracket 39 attached to the loweredge of the ventilation section 17 of the window panel 16. v

The end section 41 opposite the S-shaped section 36 of the support arm35 is-relatively straight and at its terminal end carries a shoulderrivet 42. The shoulder rivet 42 pivotally connects the lower end of thecontrol link 43 to the end section 41 of the support arm 35. The controllink 43 is pivotally anchored at its upper end to the body structureinner panel 11 by a shoulder rivet 44.

Before describing the manner in which the above-recited arms and linksfunction to raise and lower the ventilation section 17, the componentsof the window regulator mechanism for raising and lowering the large orvisibility panel section 18 will be described. This involves the seconddrive arm 27 which, as noted, is also pivotally mounted on the mountingplate 19 on pivot shaft 25 with the drive arm 26.

The arm 27 also is pivoted intermediate its ends. On one side of thepivot axis, the left side is viewed in FIG. 2, the arm has a short butwide end section 45'having an arcuate slot 46 the center of curvature ofwhich is the pivot axis of center of the pivot shaft 25. The pivot stud33 which directly connects the link 31 to the end 28 of the first drivearm 26 passes through the arcuate slot 46 thereby making an indirect orlost motion connection between the link 31 and the arm 27, for a purposeto be hereinafter explained. At its other end 47, the arm 27 carries aroller 48 which is engaged with and travels in a channel 49 carried on abracket 51 secured to the lower edge of the large or visibility panelsection 18. The bracket 51 is a part of a door glass run and bracketassembly 14 which guides the rear portion of the window panel 16 as itis raised and lowered between the inner and outer body structure or doorpanels 11 and 12. The details of construction of the door glass run andbracket assembly form no part of the present invention.

The front portion of the window panel section 18 also has a bracket 52attached thereto which carries rollers 53 that engage the window guideassembly 13. The'window guide assembly 13 also has a track 54 which isengaged by rollers 55 carried on the bracket 39 secured to theventilation section 17. The ventilation section 17 is also guided in itsup and down movements relative to the visibility section 18 by a sealingchannel 56 secured to the front edge of the visibility section 18.

The second drive arm 27 carries the weight of the larger or visibilitypanel section 18. It is non-rotatably connected to the pivot shaft 25and the latter is coupled to a flat spiral spring 57 the free end 58 ofwhich is anchored to the mounting plate 19. As in conventional windowregulator mechanism practice, the spiral spring 57 is wound up as thearm 27 swings in window lowering direction and functions as acounterbalance to assist in raising the window from its lowered positionto its uppermost position.

Because of the lost-motion connection between the second drive arm 27and the drive link 31, it is necessary to provide a latch device,generally designated 59, to hold the second drive arm against movementwhen the pivot stud 33 coupling the link 31 to the first drive arm 26 isin a position intermediate the ends of the arcuate slot 46, as willbecome apparent as the operation of the mechanism is described.

The latch device 59 comprises a thin sheet metal member or latch plate61. Near its vupper edge the latch plate 61 is pivotally mounted on apivot stud 62 carried on the end section 45 of the second drive arm 27.The latch plate 61 is provided with an arcuate slot 63 complementary tothe slot 46 in the end section 45 of the arm 27. The arcuate slot 63 atits upper end has an offset 64 which when the pivot stud 33-is inalignment therewith permits the latch plate 61 to pivot in acounterclockwise direction about the pivot stud 62, as viewed in thedrawings. The latch device is urged in this counterclockwise directionby aspring 65 one end 66 of which is hooked into an extension 67 of thebody portion 61 and the other end 68 of which is hooked into an aperturein the end section 45 of the arm 27. In the FIG. 2 position the springends are close together or in compression, so as to urge the latchdevice in the counterclockwise direction.

At its left edge, as viewed in the drawings, the latch plate 61 has aflanged indentation 69 which forms a pocket adapted to encompass a catch71 secured to the inner panel 11 of the vehicle body structure or door,as shown in FIG. 2. With the catch 71 seated in the indentation 69 andwith the pivot stud 33 at the lower end of the arcuate slot 63 the arm27 is held against movement in either an up or a down direction.

OPERATION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the window panel 16 in itsentirety is shown in a raised position relative to the vehicle body ordoor structure 10. That is, both the ventilation or small panel section17 and the visibility or large panel section 18 are in their raisedposition and the related drive arms of the window regulator mechanismare in corresponding positions.

If it is now desired to provide exhaust ventilation through theventilation panel 17, this can be accomplished by actuating the electricmotor and reduction gear unit 24 to drive the gear sector 22 in aclockwise direction as viewed in the drawings. Clockwise movement of thegear sector 22 results in the link 31 being driven upwardly, Since thelink 31 is directly coupled to the end 28 of the drive arm 26, aclockwise swinging movement is imparted to the arm 26 causing the end 29of the latter, and particularly the pivot or shoulder rivet 34 carriedthereon, to be swung in a downward circular path indicated by the line72 in FIG. 2 about the axis of rotation of the arm 26 as defined by thepivot shaft 25.

The ventilation section support arm 35 which is pivotally connected tothe drive arm 26 by the shoulder rivet 34 is carried bodily downwardlyaround the pivot shaft 25 axis; The lower end 41 of the support arm 35has been described as being pivotally connected at 42 to the lower endof a control link 43 which is pivotally anchored at its upper end to theinner panel. by a shoulder rivet 44. As the support arm 35 is carriedbodily downwardly, the pivot stud 42 is forced by the control link 43 tofollow a circular path, as indicated by the line 73 in FIG. 2, about thecenter of the shoulder rivet 44 and the arm 35 is caused to swing incounterclockwise direction about the shoulder rivet 34 on the end of thedrive arm 26 The foregoing geometrical relationship of the drive arm 26,the support arm 35 and the control link 43 results in the roller 37following a substantially vertical downward path, as indicated by theline 74. Any lateral movement of the roller 37 is accommodated by thechannel 38 carried on the bracket 39 attached to the lower edge of theventilation section 17. This downward movement of the ventilationsection 17 is timed to continue until the ventilation section is belowthe belt line of the vehicle body structure, i.e., until it is in afully opened position. It will be understood that the downward movementof the ventilation section 17 can be interrupted merely by releasing theswitch causing operation of the motor 24.

Because of the lost motion or pin 33 in slot 46 connection between thelink 31 and the second drive arm 27, no movement of the gear sector 22is transmitted to the second drive arm 27. The pivot stud 33, however,has moved away from the bottom of the slot 46 and there would be nothingexcept the friction in this system and whatever preload had been woundinto the spring 57 to resist downward movement of the large orvisibility panel 18 without the presence of the latch device 59. As seenin FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch device 59 indentation 69 straddles the catch71.

The latched condition of the drive arm 27 continues until the pivot stud33 reaches the top of the slot 46 and the top of the complementary slot63 in the latch device body portion 61. At this point the pivot 33becomes aligned with the lateral offset 64 at the end of slot 63 and thespring 65 becomes operative to pivot the latch 59 about the pivot stud62 to the position shown in FIG. 3. In this position, the lower edge 69aof the latch plate indentation 69 is moved out of the path of the catch71 and the'second drive arm 27 is released for swinging movement in aclockwise direction.

Thus, if rotation of the gear sector 22 in a clockwise direction iscontinued beyond the point at which the ventilation section 17 isdropped below the belt line of the vehicle door, the continued upwardmovement of the link 31 will cause the pivot stud 33 on the end thereofto abut the upper end of the slot 46 in the second drive arm 27 causingthe latter to be swung in a clockwise direction about the pivot axisdefined by the pivot shaft 25. This'will result in downward movement ofthe roller 48 carried on the end 47 ofthe second drive arm 27, theroller 48 moving in a path indicated by the line 75, see FIG. 3.Downward movement of the roller 48 causes downward movement of thevisibility section 18 of the window panel 16 along the door glass runand bracket assembly 14. Lateral movement of the roller 48 isaccommodated by the channel 49 on the bracket 51 secured to the loweredge of the window panel section 18.

As the link 31 picks up and drives the second drive arm 27 in aclockwise direction it also continues to drive the first drive arm 26 ina clockwise direction. At this point, however, a radical change inmovement of the support arm 35 occurs. Control link 43 which has beenswinging in a counterclockwise direction reverses its direction ofmovement and begins to swing back in a clockwise direction towards itsoriginal position shown in FIG. 2. The shoulder rivet 34, however,continues to swing in a circular path indicated by the line 72 andcarries the support arm 35 in a lateral direction beneath the pivot axis25 of the drive arm 26. The result is that the roller 37, whilecontinuing to move in a downward path, also begins to move much morerapidly in a lateral direction away from the regulator mounting plate 19until it bottoms out and then begins to move in a slightly upwarddirection. Meanwhile, the roller 48 coupling the second drive arm 27 tothe channel 49 attached to the visibility section of the window panel 16moves downwardly and overtakes the roller 37. Downward movement of theroller 48 continues until the large or visibility section 18 of thewindow panel 16 is dropped below the belt line out of view within thebody structure. As will be understood, suitable stops are provided inthe body structure to limit the downward movement of the window panel16.

To raise the window panel 16 and both of its sections 17 and 18 it isnecessary to actuate the drive motor unit 24 to rotate the gear sector22 in a counterclockwise direction. With the gear sector 22 rotating ina counterclockwise direction, the link 31 is pulled downwardly causingthe drive arms 26 and 27 to be swung in counterclockwise direction. Thedrive arm 26 is swung in a counterclockwise direction because it iscoupled directly to the link 31 by the pivot stud 33. The drive arm 27is swung in a counterclockwise direction because the pivot stud 33 isseated in the laterally offset portion 64 of the slot of the latchdevice 59 and is thereby blocked against movement in the arcuate slot 46of the drive arm 27. The roller 48 on the end of the arm section 47 ofthe second drive arm 27 drives the visibility section 18 of the windowpanel 16 upwardly. At the same time the roller 37 on the end of thesupport arm 35 which is pivotally supported on the drive arm 26 retracesits curved path in which the roller 37 actually moves slightly below itsposition shown in FIG. 4 until it begins to move upwardly until the FIG.3 section is reached. With the parts as shown in FIG. 3, the visibilitysection 18 is in a fully raised position but the ventilation section 17is still below the belt line of the vehicle.

As seen in FIG. 3, the upper edge 69b of the latch plate indentation 69is in a position to abut the upper surface of the catch 71 and as soonas it does so it overcomes the resistance of the spring 65 and causesthe latch plate 61 to rotate in a clockwise direction about pivot stud62. The second drive arm 27 is then latched against movement in eitherup or down direction. The slots 63 and 46 assume the complementaryrelationship shown in FIG. 2. As the link 31 continues its downwardmovement the pivot pin 33 is free to move downwardly in the slots 46 and63. As it does so, it transmits movement of the link 31 only to thedrive arm 26 causing the latter, the support arm 35 and the control link43 to be restored toward their FIG. 2 position. As these arms and linksmove from the FIG. 3 to the FIG. 2 position, the ventilation window 17moves from below the belt line of the vehicle body structure into thewindow opening toward the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1.

As was noted above, downward movement of the window panel and itsrespective sections 17 and 18 can be interrupted at any time so that theventilation section 17 may be partially opened or fully opened and thevisibility section 18, after the ventilation section has been fullyopened, may also be placed in a position in which it is partially openedor fully opened. Conversely, during raising movement of the panel 16 theoperation may be interrupted at any time so that the visibility section18 may be partially closed or fully closed and subsequently, after thevisibility section is fully closed, the ventilation section 17 may bemoved to a partially or fully closed position.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the exactconstruction illustrated and described above, but that various changesand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim: 1. A vehicle body structure having a window opening, a windowpanel vertically divided into a ventilation section and a visibilitysection,

and a window regulator mechanism for vertically raising and lowering thewindow pane] sections into and out of the window opening, the windowregulator mechanism comprising a first drive arm means coupled to theventilation section and a second drive arm means coupled to thevisibility section, operating means coupled to the first and seconddrive arm means operable to move the latter sequentially to first lowerthe ventilation section a predetermined distance independently of thevisibility section and then upon continued operation to lower theventilation and visibility sections together to a fully lowered positionof the latter,

and latch means holding the second drive arm means coupled to thevisibility section against movement until released by the first drivearm means coupled to the ventilation section upon the latter beinglowered the predetermined distance,

the sequence of movement of the ventilation and visibility sectionsbeing reversed upon the window pane] being raised from a loweredposition with the latch means becoming operative to hold the visibilitypanel against movement beyond its fully raised position as theventilation section continues its upward movement.

2. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:

the ventilation section is guided for vertical movement relative to thevisibility section on a guide channel secured to the front edge of thelatter section.

3. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:

the drive arm means are swingable about a common pivot axis in counterdirections.

4. A vehicle body structure according to claim 3, in which:

theoperating means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto, v

the drive link being pivotally connected to the drive arm means coupledto the ventilation section and having a lost motion connection with thedrive arm means coupled to the visibility section.

5. A vehicle body structure according to claim 4, in which:

the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drivearm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a vehicle bodystructural member,

a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end ofthedrive arm,

and a control link pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle bodystructural member and at its other end to one end ofthe support arm,

the other end of the support arm being coupled to the ven-' tilationsection,

the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the support arm andcontrol link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance inwhich the ventilation section moves independently of the visibilitysection and thereafter moves in a downwardly curvedlateral pathpermitting thevisibility section to overtake and move past theventilation section to a fully lowered position.

6. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:

the operating means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto,

the drive link being pivotally connected to the drive arm means coupledto the ventilation section and having a lost motion connection with thedrive arm means coupled to the visibility section.

7. A vehicle body structure according to claim 6, in which:

the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drivearm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a vehicle bodystructural member,

7 a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end ofthe drive arm,

and a control link pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle bodystructural member and at its other end to one end of the support arm,

the other end of the support arm being coupled to the ventilationsection,

the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the'support arm andcontrol link being-such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance inwhich the ventilation section moves independently of the visibilitysection and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral pathpermitting the visibility section to overtake and move past theventilation section to a fully lowered position.

8. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:

the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drivearm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a vehicle bodystructural member,

a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end ofthe drive arm,

and a controllink pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle bodystructural member and at its other end to one end of the support arm,

the other end of the support arm being coupled to the ventilationsection, v

the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, the support arm andcontrol link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the ventilation section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance inwhich the ventilation section moves independently of the visibilitysection and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral pathpermitting the visibility section to overtake and move past theventilation section to a fully lowered position.

9. A vehicle body structure having a window opening,

a window panel vertically divided into two sections,

the window panel section toward the front end of the vehicle bodystructure being substantially smaller than the section rearwardlythereof,

and a window regulator mechanism for raising and lowering the windowpanel sections into and out of the window opening,

wherein the improvement comprises:

the window regulator mechanism having a pair of pivoted drive arms oneof which pivotally carries a support arm coupled to the smaller panelsection and the other of which is coupled directly to the larger panelsection,

drive means coupled to the drive arms to swing the latter in windowpanel section raising and lowering direction,

the drive means being directly coupled to the one drive arm and beingcoupled to the other drive arm through a lost motion connection meanswhereby upon operation of the drive means to lower the window panel froma raised position the smaller panel section will be lowered apredetermined distance without corresponding movement of the largerpanel section until the lost motion is taken up at which time the largerpanel section also will be lowered,

the window regulator mechanism including a latch means effective to holdthe other of the drive arms and therefore the larger panel sectionagainst movement while the smaller panel section moves within the rangeof the lost motlon movement,

the latch means being released by a part of the lost motion connectionmeans as the latter initiates downward movement of the larger panelsection, I

the sequence of movement of the larger and smaller panel sections beingreversed upon the window panel being raised from a lowered position withthe latch means becoming operative to hold the other of the drive armsas soon as the larger panel section reaches fully raised position as theone arm continues its movement to raise the smaller panel section tofully raised position.

10. A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which:

the pair of pivoted drive arms are swingable about a common pivot axisin counter directions.

11. A vehicle body structure according to claim 10, in

which:

the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto,

the drive link being a component of the drive means that is directlycoupled to the one drive arm carrying the smaller panel section and thathas the lost motion connection with the other drive arm coupled to thelarger panel section.

12. A vehicle body structure according to claim 11, in

which:

the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingableabout a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end tothe smaller panel section,

and a control link is pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle bodystructure and at its other end to the other end of the support arm,

the geometrical relationship of the one drive arm, the support arm andcontrol link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the smaller panel section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance thesmaller panel section moves without corresponding movement of the largerpanel section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral pathpermitting the larger panel section to overtake and move past thesmaller panel section to a fully lowered position.

13. A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which:

the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto,

the drive link being a component of the drive means that is directlycoupled to the one drive arm carrying the smaller panel section and thathas the lost motion connection 1 with the other drive arm coupled to thelarger panel section.

14. A vehicle body structure according to claim 13, in

which:

the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingableabout a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end tothe smaller panel section,

and a control link is pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle bodystructure and at its other end to the other end of the support arm,

the geometrical relationship of the one drive arm, the support arm andcontrol link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the smaller panel section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance thesmaller panel section moves without corresponding movement of the largerpanel section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral pathpermitting the larger panel section to overtake and move past thesmaller panel section to a fully lowered position.

15. A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which:

the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingableabout a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end tothe smaller panel section,

and a control link is pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle bodystructure and at its other end to the other end of the support arm,

the geometrical relationship of the one drive arm, the support arm andcontrol link being such that upon the window regulator mechanism beingactuated to lower the window panel the point of connection of the end ofthe support arm to the smaller panel section moves downward in asubstantially vertical direction through the predetermined distance thesmaller panel section moves without corresponding movement of the largerpanel section and thereafter moves in a downwardly curved lateral pathpermitting the larger panel section to overtake and move past thesmaller panel section to a fully lowered position. 16. A windowregulator mechanism for moving a plurisectional window panel into andout of a window opening in a vehicle body structure having a mechanismsupport panel sub- 5 jacent the window opening,

the window regulator mechanism comprising:

a mounting plate secured to the support panel,

a gear sector rotatably supported on the mounting plate,

a first drive arm pivotally supported on a mounting plate for pivotalmovement abouta pivot axis paralleling the pivot axis of the gear sectorthe pivot axis of the first drive arm being located intermediate theends of the latter and each end projecting beyond the mounting plate,

a drive link pivotally connected at one end to the gear sector and atits other end to one end of the first drive arm to translate rotationalmovement of the gear sector into swinging movement of the first drivearm,

a first window panel section support arm pivotally mounted intermediateits ends on the other end of the first drive arm,

one end of the support arm being adapted to be operatively connected tothe first window panel section and the other end being pivotallyconnected to one end of a control link the other end of which ispivotally connected to the support panel,

the geometrical relationship of the gear sector, the first drive arm,the drive link connecting the gear sector to the first drive arm, thefirst window panel section support arm and the control link being suchthat rotation of the gear sector from a window pane] up position resultsin downward substantially vertical movement of the window panelconnected end to a predetermined point following which the end movementfollows a downwardly curved path;

a second drive arm superimposed over the first drive arm for pivotalmovement about the pivot axis of the latter,

the drive link having at one end a pin and slot connection with the endof the drive link connected to the first drive arm and at its other endbeing adapted to be operatively connected to a second window panelsection,

the pin and slot connection between the drive link and the second drivearm preventing translation of gear sector movement to the second drivearrn until the substantially vertical downward movement of the end ofthe support arm connected to the first window panel section reaches thepredetermined point at which the end movement begins to follow thecurved path,

the drive link then picking up the second drive arm and swinging thelatter so that its end connected to the second window panel sectiondrives the latter to a lowered position,

latch means carried by said second drive arm to hold the latter againstmovement except through the drive link,

the latching action of the latch means being controlled by the pin ofthe pin and slot connection between the drive link and second drive armwith the latch means being released by the pin as the drive link picksup the second drive arm,

and operating means for driving the gear sector in window raising andlowering direction.

1. A vehicle body structure having a window opening, a window panelvertically divided into a ventilation section and a visibility section,and a window regulator mechanism for vertically raising and lowering thewindow panel sections into and out of the window opening, the windowregulator mechanism comprising a first drive arm means coupled to theventilation section and a second drive arm means coupled to thevisibility section, operating means coupled to the first and seconddrive arm means operable to move the latter sequentially to first lowerthe ventilation section a predetermined distance independently of thevisibility section and then upon continued operation to lower theventilation and visibility sections together to a fully lowered positionof the latter, and latch means holding the second drive arm meanscoupled to the visibility section against movement until released by thefirst drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section upon the latterbeing lowered the predetermined distance, the sequence of movement ofthe ventilation and visibility sections being reversed upon the windowpanel being raised from a lowered position with the latch means becomingoperative to hold the visibility panel against movement beyond its fullyraised position as the ventilation section continues its upwardmovement.
 2. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:the ventilation section is guided for vertical movement relative to thevisibility section on a guide channel secured to the front edge of thelatter section.
 3. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, inwhich: the drive arm means are swingable about a common pivot axis incounter directions.
 4. A vehicle body structure according to claim 3, inwhich: the operating means comprises a gear sector and a drive linkcoupled thereto, the drive link being pivotally connected to the drivearm means coupled to the ventilation section and having a lost motionconnection with the drive arm means coupled to the visibility section.5. A vehicle body structure according to claim 4, in which: the drivearm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drive armpivotally supported intermedIate its ends on a vehicle body structuralmember, a support arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on oneend of the drive arm, and a control link pivotally anchored at one endto the vehicle body structural member and at its other end to one end ofthe support arm, the other end of the support arm being coupled to theventilation section, the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, thesupport arm and control link being such that upon the window regulatormechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point ofconnection of the end of the support arm to the ventilation sectionmoves downward in a substantially vertical direction through thepredetermined distance in which the ventilation section movesindependently of the visibility section and thereafter moves in adownwardly curved lateral path permitting the visibility section toovertake and move past the ventilation section to a fully loweredposition.
 6. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:the operating means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto, the drive link being pivotally connected to the drive arm meanscoupled to the ventilation section and having a lost motion connectionwith the drive arm means coupled to the visibility section.
 7. A vehiclebody structure according to claim 6, in which: the drive arm meanscoupled to the ventilation section comprises a drive arm pivotallysupported intermediate its ends on a vehicle body structural member, asupport arm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on one end of thedrive arm, and a control link pivotally anchored at one end to thevehicle body structural member and at its other end to one end of thesupport arm, the other end of the support arm being coupled to theventilation section, the geometrical relationship of the drive arm, thesupport arm and control link being such that upon the window regulatormechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the point ofconnection of the end of the support arm to the ventilation sectionmoves downward in a substantially vertical direction through thepredetermined distance in which the ventilation section movesindependently of the visibility section and thereafter moves in adownwardly curved lateral path permitting the visibility section toovertake and move past the ventilation section to a fully loweredposition.
 8. A vehicle body structure according to claim 1, in which:the drive arm means coupled to the ventilation section comprises a drivearm pivotally supported intermediate its ends on a vehicle bodystructural member, a support arm pivotally supported intermediate itsends on one end of the drive arm, and a control link pivotally anchoredat one end to the vehicle body structural member and at its other end toone end of the support arm, the other end of the support arm beingcoupled to the ventilation section, the geometrical relationship of thedrive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon thewindow regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel thepoint of connection of the end of the support arm to the ventilationsection moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through thepredetermined distance in which the ventilation section movesindependently of the visibility section and thereafter moves in adownwardly curved lateral path permitting the visibility section toovertake and move past the ventilation section to a fully loweredposition.
 9. A vehicle body structure having a window opening, a windowpanel vertically divided into two sections, the window panel sectiontoward the front end of the vehicle body structure being substantiallysmaller than the section rearwardly thereof, and a window regulatormechanism for raising and lowering the window panel sections into andout of the window opening, wherein the improvement comprises: the windowregulator mechanism having a pair of pivoted drive arms one of whichpivotally carries a support arm coupled to the smaller panel section andthe other of which is coupled directly to the larger panel section,drive means coupled to the drive arms to swing the latter in windowpanel section raising and lowering direction, the drive means beingdirectly coupled to the one drive arm and being coupled to the otherdrive arm through a lost motion connection means whereby upon operationof the drive means to lower the window panel from a raised position thesmaller panel section will be lowered a predetermined distance withoutcorresponding movement of the larger panel section until the lost motionis taken up at which time the larger panel section also will be lowered,the window regulator mechanism including a latch means effective to holdthe other of the drive arms and therefore the larger panel sectionagainst movement while the smaller panel section moves within the rangeof the lost motion movement, the latch means being released by a part ofthe lost motion connection means as the latter initiates downwardmovement of the larger panel section, the sequence of movement of thelarger and smaller panel sections being reversed upon the window panelbeing raised from a lowered position with the latch means becomingoperative to hold the other of the drive arms as soon as the largerpanel section reaches fully raised position as the one arm continues itsmovement to raise the smaller panel section to fully raised position.10. A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which: the pair ofpivoted drive arms are swingable about a common pivot axis in counterdirections.
 11. A vehicle body structure according to claim 10, inwhich: the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto, the drive link being a component of the drive means that isdirectly coupled to the one drive arm carrying the smaller panel sectionand that has the lost motion connection with the other drive arm coupledto the larger panel section.
 12. A vehicle body structure according toclaim 11, in which: the support arm pivotally carried on the one drivearm is swingable about a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupledat one end to the smaller panel section, and a control link is pivotallyanchored at one end to the vehicle body structure and at its other endto the other end of the support arm, the geometrical relationship of theone drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon thewindow regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel thepoint of connection of the end of the support arm to the smaller panelsection moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through thepredetermined distance the smaller panel section moves withoutcorresponding movement of the larger panel section and thereafter movesin a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the larger panel sectionto overtake and move past the smaller panel section to a fully loweredposition.
 13. A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which:the drive means comprises a gear sector and a drive link coupledthereto, the drive link being a component of the drive means that isdirectly coupled to the one drive arm carrying the smaller panel sectionand that has the lost motion connection with the other drive arm coupledto the larger panel section.
 14. A vehicle body structure according toclaim 13, in which: the support arm pivotally carried on the one drivearm is swingable about a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupledat one end to the smaller panel section, and a control link is pivotallyanchored at one end to the vehicle body structure and at its other endto the other end of the support arm, the geometrical relationship of theone drive arm, the support arm and control link being such that upon thewindow regulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel thepoint of connectiOn of the end of the support arm to the smaller panelsection moves downward in a substantially vertical direction through thepredetermined distance the smaller panel section moves withoutcorresponding movement of the larger panel section and thereafter movesin a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the larger panel sectionto overtake and move past the smaller panel section to a fully loweredposition.
 15. A vehicle body structure according to claim 9, in which:the support arm pivotally carried on the one drive arm is swingableabout a pivot axis intermediate its ends and is coupled at one end tothe smaller panel section, and a control link is pivotally anchored atone end to the vehicle body structure and at its other end to the otherend of the support arm, the geometrical relationship of the one drivearm, the support arm and control link being such that upon the windowregulator mechanism being actuated to lower the window panel the pointof connection of the end of the support arm to the smaller panel sectionmoves downward in a substantially vertical direction through thepredetermined distance the smaller panel section moves withoutcorresponding movement of the larger panel section and thereafter movesin a downwardly curved lateral path permitting the larger panel sectionto overtake and move past the smaller panel section to a fully loweredposition.
 16. A window regulator mechanism for moving a plurisectionalwindow panel into and out of a window opening in a vehicle bodystructure having a mechanism support panel subjacent the window opening,the window regulator mechanism comprising: a mounting plate secured tothe support panel, a gear sector rotatably supported on the mountingplate, a first drive arm pivotally supported on a mounting plate forpivotal movement about a pivot axis paralleling the pivot axis of thegear sector, the pivot axis of the first drive arm being locatedintermediate the ends of the latter and each end projecting beyond themounting plate, a drive link pivotally connected at one end to the gearsector and at its other end to one end of the first drive arm totranslate rotational movement of the gear sector into swinging movementof the first drive arm, a first window panel section support armpivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the other end of the firstdrive arm, one end of the support arm being adapted to be operativelyconnected to the first window panel section and the other end beingpivotally connected to one end of a control link the other end of whichis pivotally connected to the support panel, the geometricalrelationship of the gear sector, the first drive arm, the drive linkconnecting the gear sector to the first drive arm, the first windowpanel section support arm and the control link being such that rotationof the gear sector from a window panel up position results in downwardsubstantially vertical movement of the window panel connected end to apredetermined point following which the end movement follows adownwardly curved path; a second drive arm superimposed over the firstdrive arm for pivotal movement about the pivot axis of the latter, thedrive link having at one end a pin and slot connection with the end ofthe drive link connected to the first drive arm and at its other endbeing adapted to be operatively connected to a second window panelsection, the pin and slot connection between the drive link and thesecond drive arm preventing translation of gear sector movement to thesecond drive arm until the substantially vertical downward movement ofthe end of the support arm connected to the first window panel sectionreaches the predetermined point at which the end movement begins tofollow the curved path, the drive link then picking up the second drivearm and swinging the latter so that its end connected to the secondwindow panel section drives the latter to a lowered position, latchmeans carried by said second drive arm to hold the latter againstmovement except through the drive link, the latching action of the latchmeans being controlled by the pin of the pin and slot connection betweenthe drive link and second drive arm with the latch means being releasedby the pin as the drive link picks up the second drive arm, andoperating means for driving the gear sector in window raising andlowering direction.